Description Occurs when one or ...
Description
Occurs when one or more small areas within the spleen are deprived of blood flow, usually from traveling clots that block small blood vessels in the spleen. The spleen is located in the left upper abdomen under the ribs. This organ removes old red blood cells from the serum and holds red blood cells for emergency use by the body. The spleen is also important in fighting infection by removing bacteria covered by the body's antibodies. Splenic infarction can occur in the following conditions: artificial heart valves, infected heart valves, hypercoagulable states, cancer, and trauma to the spleen.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain in the left upper abdomen, left flank pain, fever, chills, vomiting, left shoulder pain.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. This diagnosis is seen on CT scan of the abdomen. A heart murmur or suspicion that a clot may have traveled from the heart can be evaluated with echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Ultrasound
Other Specific Tests: Angiography
Specialists:
General Surgery
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. This diagnosis is seen on CT scan of the abdomen. A heart murmur or suspicion that a clot may have traveled from the heart can be evaluated with echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Ultrasound
Other Specific Tests: Angiography
Specialists:
General Surgery
Treatment
Most patients with splenic infarctions are observed first in the hospital then at home. Surgery is rarely needed (taking out the spleen - "splenectomy" could be done in severe cases.) All patients who have a non-functioning spleen should be evaluated for vaccination against the pneumococcus, hemophilus and meningococcus bacteria.